99ers form a union to lobby for a Tier V of federal unemployment benefits

AP file photoThe American 99ers Union was formed to lobby Congress to create a Tier V of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed.

More than 6 million Americans have been out of work for more than six months
and they're stepping up efforts to join together in support of increased help from the federal government, writes Annie Lowrey of the Michigan Messenger, who's written several in-depth stories on the problem of long-term unemployment.

"99ers" — those long-term unemployed who have exhausted all available 99 weeks of unemployment benefits — have formed the American 99ers Union to lobby Congress to create a Tier V of federal unemployment benefits, she reports.

The American 99ers Union first order of business is to get members and readers to join in a faxing/emailing/calling campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 22, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. in order to get the Americans Want to Work Act, introduced by Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, passed into law.

The bill would create an additional tier of federal unemployment benefits that would provide 20 additional weeks of benefits for people in states with an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent or higher as well as extend through 2011 the HIRE Act tax credit, which cuts payroll taxes for businesses that hire workers who have been unemployed longer than eight weeks and provides a $1,000 tax credit for each new worker employed for at least a year.

The bill is stuck in committee and doesn't appear likely to pass any time soon.

According the American 99ers Union: "An avalanche of messages received all in one day will clearly demonstrate to the Senators that there are indeed many of us who desperately need this bill to be signed into law."

The union recommends that people contact their own two senators since senators often ignore requests that come from out of state.

The union aims to wield the political clout of the 99ers and those who support them. It writes:

"Inform our senators that we are watching their votes very closely and we will vote against those who oppose this bill in the November election, encourage our friends and family to vote against them and use the internet and media to encourage the general public to vote against those who will not help Americans who are suffering without unemployment insurance during this national emergency."